and service colonies in the area. The colonies and their accompanying infrastructure separate Palestinians from their lands,167 livelihoods,168 and from each other. The denial of access and use of their land results in Palestinian landowners in the oPt being exposed to the associated obstacles and hardships (such as the closure of agricultural roads and the additional time needed to reach the land), thus exacerbating an already coercive environment. The situation in the Deir Istiya area is further intensified by colonizers’ attacks, which appear to be condoned - if not supported - by the Israeli army according to Testimony 1. The violence perpetrated by colonizers and the impunity with which it is committed, create further coercive factors affecting Palestinians. Both testimonies attest to the involuntariness of the relocation of the residents of Deir Istiya to other areas. In other words, their displacement is forced due to the coercive environment created by the policies and practices of Israel. Under these circumstances, Palestinian displacement constitutes forcible transfer: a grave breach of GCIV and a war crime according to the Rome Statute. Taken collectively, the situation resulting from the policies of the Israeli government in the oPt not only amounts to a plethora of human rights violations but also constitutes a grave breach of its obligations as an Occupying Power. Thus, it can be concluded that the creation and expansion of colonies (which in itself is prohibited) is a vehicle for other war crimes such as forcible transfer resulting from a coercive environment, or the extensive destruction and appropriation of property when carried out unlawfully and wantonly.169 167 UDHR, art. 17, 1948 states that “Everyone has the right to own property […] and no one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.” See: UDHR, art. 17, supra note 140. 168 UDHR, art. 23, 1948 and ICESCR, art. 6, 1976 address the right to work. See: UDHR, art. 23, supra note 140; UN General Assembly, International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, 16 December 1966, United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 993, art.6, available at: http://www.refworld.org/ docid/3ae6b36c0.html [accessed 28 September 2017]. 169 Rome Statute, art. 8(2)(a)(iv), supra note 57. 62